When Axel Geddes (not a stage name) calls me, it's a few minutes late, but he has a great rock star excuse. "I was lost in my head at work," he said in a voicemail message. A typical occurrence in his profession.

Geddes is a film editor at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville where he met his Schnittmeister bandmates, some of whom are also fellow dads. This Friday, the Beach Dads Club will be raising money for the school's Capital Campaign by holding a between Schnittmeister, Xposition and The Thingers.

Schnittmeister literally translates from German as "cutting master" or, simply, editor. The 12-member band first began practicing covers of Screamin' Jay Hawkins, PJ Harvey and Cult over lunch breaks right at the Pixar studios, but as work picked up, band practice was rescheduled.

"We'll get some practice in after the kids go to bed," explained Geddes.

Representing the story and art departments at Pixar are Xposition, another cover band with a flair for '70s and '80s rock from the likes of Journey and AC/DC. Xposition's rock may be heavier, but Geddes insists that Schnittmeister has the winning strategy.

"We're just going to be louder than anybody else. Beat everybody's ears into submission." he said decisively of his band's game plan for Friday's contest.

One set of ears that Geddes plans to attack belongs to Kirk Markopoulos, guitarist and leader of The Thingers. Markopoulos may not be a Pixar employee, but he and Geddes go back 20 years in the San Francisco music scene. Geddes instantly recognized Markopoulos when they ran into each other at a dads club meeting. The two are friendly, but things are bound to heat up on Friday.

"I hear more and more banter going on and I'm starting to feel that some people are taking this a little seriously." said Markopoulos, "I have no idea if we have a chance at all because we're sandwiched between two Pixar bands."

But The Thingers may have a leg up as the only band in the lineup with an all original repertoire. Markopoulos has been writing and performing his own songs since the late '80s and lists The Kinks, T-Rex and "a little Prince mixed in" among his influences. An audience member once described The Thingers as the "dirty Beach Boys", which Markopoulos took as a great compliment.

While he may not be Brian Wilson, this Beach Dad says that more recently he has taken lyrical inspiration from being a parent. The audience will be treated to at least one of two songs written about his sons, Theodore the Conqueror (in second grade) and Nicholas the Terrible (going into kindergarten next year).

Even with song dedications and late night practices, these rock star dads say they aren't winning any brownie points with their kids.

"I don't think anybody thinks their dad is cool," laughed Geddes.

A few days ago Geddes called Markopoulos to ask if he would be censoring his act. His answer was simple: no.

"I don't know where everybody comes from in Piedmont," he said, "but I imagine they've been to a bar before. I'm not gonna hold anything back."

The coordinators of the event have promised a panel of judges and an audience shout-out competition. Only one band will prevail.

The will rock The Starry Plough at 3101 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley this Friday at 8 p.m. Admission is $25 and goes to benefit the Beach Elementary Capital Campaign.  

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